Status of technology for the recovery of uranium from seawater
Experimental work involving recovery of uranium from seawater is currently under way in several countries. Hydrous titanium oxide has been repeatedly identified as the most promising candidate absorbent. However, many of its properties such as distribution coefficient, selectivity, loading, and possibly long-term stability may be inadequate for a practical recovery system. Also, evaluations of the energy efficiency of pumped or tidal power methods of contacting the seawater with the hydrous titanium oxide are in major disagreement. Published estimates of the cost of recovering U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ vary by an order of magnitude. Needed future research and development activities are defined, based on a literature review of the available chemical information. The prime recommendation is for a fundamental laboratory chemical development program to achieve improved absorbent properties, either with hydrous titanium oxide or other materials. Some unresolved engineering aspects of uranium recovery from seawater are also identified. 63 references.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5628269
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-810520-; TRN: 82-006524
- Journal Information:
- Sep. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 16:9; Conference: Symposium on separation science and technology for energy applications, Gatlinburg, TN, USA, 5 May 1981
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
SEAWATER
TITANIUM OXIDES
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
URANIUM
RECOVERY
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
COST
DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENGINEERING
EVALUATION
HYDROMETALLURGY
PUMPING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SPECIFICITY
STABILITY
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
URANIUM OXIDES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALLURGY
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
WATER
050400* - Nuclear Fuels- Feed Processing
400105 - Separation Procedures